The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-09-02
HANCOCK, THE SUPERB:
R.nin,.e.nce. by Hi. wife of q Brilliant Military

CAFo0Hs
Messrs. Charles l.. Webster & Co.,
publishers OF General Grants Men,
oirs" and "McClellan's Own Story"
publish the "reminiscences OF Winfield
Scott Hancock" by his wife. The in.
terest OF the book is personal rather
than historical. General Hancock
took a conspicuous part in many
dramas OF national Importance; but
his biographer Zone might almost
say his autobiagrapher, so completely
was Mrs. Hancock'slife identified with
her husband's) has described the
scenes in which he acted with such
distinction and narrated the events
which led to them, with just
sufficient fullness to make the Gen
erals relations to them clear and
throw light upon his character.
The "Reminiscences" begins with
the marriage OF the writer to General
Hancock at the residence of her father.
Mr.. Samuel Russell, inst. Louis, jan
nary "a, 1850.
In chapter 4 Mrs. Hancockdescribes
wildly the discomtorts to which she
was necessarily subjected at Fort
Meyers, Florida, during the trouble
with the seminoles in 1856.
When the troubles in Florida were
settled General Harvey was trans
ferred to Fort Leavenworth, Kan,
where disturbances were expected.
Hancock, who by this time had be.
come a captain, Joined him there,
serving inthe quartermaster's depart
ment until March 81, 1858, when he
was ordered to accompany General
Harney's expedition to Utah, where
complication had arisen be-
tween the Mormans and the
Gentiles. At the close Hancock was
ordered to repeat to Colonel An
drews, commanding at Fort Bridger.
"From Fort Leavenworth to Fort
Bridger the distance is 1000 miles,"
says Mrs. Hancock; from Fort Bridg-
er to Bpnec;a, Cal, lila; total dis.
lance, 2.728 miles, AMI this wascovtr-
eli by Hanco tx OH mnleback."
On arriving Mt Benaci, Captain
Hancock found. awaiting him u leave
OF Absence and returned to the East.
by way oil tine Isthmus, for the pur-
pose OF esco,tins his femily back to
The Pacific coast. A period OF two
rncnti,s WAS deiilhtitlily spent in
Washington. Mrs. Hancock di .resses
II little to describe this soiourn:
Miss Harriet Ian :. mistress OF he
White House. with her personal
charms and court!y manners was u
universal favorita, and did great cred
it TO Mr.. Euchanan's administration.
Mrs. DAVIS. wife OF the Secretary OF
war. Jefferson Davis, whom ! well re-
member. wa endowed with many re-
n:arkabie qualities that made her
emlnently fitted to be q presiding
genius. and her entertainments
brought together the most cultivated
class of Washington society. Mrs.
Joe Johnston was another shining
light in that great capital, n person
of unusual intelligence and quick at
repartee, which made her most fascin-
ating in conversation. Her charm
ing reunions are long to be remember
ed by those who were admitted with.
in this charmed circle. \ How
well l remember General Robert T..
Lee. then a major, who vas stationed
there at that time. He vas the beau
ideal Of soldier and a gentleman.
When bidding US goodbye and god
speed upon the v of our departure,
he said to me: Il understand that you
contemplate desertlngyourpost, which
is oy your husbands side, and that
you are not going to California with
him. II you will pardon me, / should
liketo give you a little advice. You
must not think OF doing this. AS one
considerably older than Hancock, and
having had greater experience. I con
slider it fatal to the future happiness
OF young married people, upon small
provocation, to live apart, either for
a short or long time. The result is
invariably that they cease to be es.
sential to each other. Now promise
me that you will not permit him to
sail without YOU The sequel shows
how faithfully l sought to follow that
noble mans admonition. and bow Oft
en- in my varied experience ! had oc.
casion to transmit to others his dis.
interested. truthful convictions.
With many regrets we bade adieu to
a host OF friends, most of whom |
never saw agais. Not so with my
Iu6Uu1I0y h0W0SCLs LAC htGV kkSIAA
face to face on the battlefield in less
than three years"
After crossing the 1sthmus of Pan
anna Captain Handbook and his
wife embarked on the Golden Gate
for San Francisco. There were 1.75O
passengers in all. AMI those in the
steerage were Prescriptions and az
gressive ard Handbook took promi-
nent part in suppressing an ineipient
mutiny.
The Hancocks were in Los Angeles
when the electionoilS60 approached.
Their situation was equally danger
II and unpleasant. Fearing a per-
sonal assault upou himself, a very
possible event, as he was the only
UnitedStates official within q hundred
miles OF Los Angeles. he collected q
small arsenal Of twenty Derringers
within his own house, in readiness for
use at q moments notice.
On the Fourth OF July. 1860. Mr..